East Wins Highest-Scoring NBA All-Star Game, 163-155

Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving (31 Points) Is Youngest-Ever MVP

ENLARGE

Western Conference guard Chris Paul (3) of the Los Angeles Clippers drives to the basket against Eastern Conference Kyrie Irving (2) of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday.
USA Today Sports

By

Chris Herring

Updated Feb. 18, 2014 9:54 a.m. ET

NEW ORLEANS—In an up-and-down showing that would have disappointed those who prefer to watch good defense, the Eastern Conference and Western Conference produced the highest-scoring All-Star Game in NBA history on Sunday night. The East came out of the exhibition game on top, winning 163-155 here at the Smoothie King Center.

The game was highlighted early by Clippers star
Blake Griffin,
who threw down alley-oop dunk after alley-oop dunk at the beginning of the contest.

But Cleveland's Kyrie Irving, who finished with 31 points and 14 assists, closed the game out strong and took home the game's Most Valuable Player Award. At 21, he's the youngest player to have claimed the honor.

Sunday's game, the 63rd edition, was missing a few of its usual stars; most notably Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who is rehabbing the knee that he fractured earlier in the season.

A number of other usual participants—Boston's Rajon Rondo, Chicago's Derrick Rose and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook—have lost significant time to knee injuries and weren't part of the game. Future Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, both aging and in decline, weren't selected to play in the game this season.

There was no shortage of scoring in their absence, though. The 318 combined points between the teams blew away the previous record of 304 points set in 1987. The East shot 61% from the field, while the West shot 51%.

ENLARGE

The Eastern Conference's LeBron James of the Miami Heat heads for the net as the Western Conference's Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers defends during the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday.
Getty Images

"I didn't even know about the record," said Anthony, adding that a ball boy sitting along the bench informed him late in the game. "He tapped me on the shoulder and said I had the record, and I was like, 'What record are you talking about?' "

On some level, though, Irving stood out more because he was taking advantage of an opportunity: He was voted in as an All-Star starter, something that likely wouldn't have happened had Rondo or Rose, a former MVP, been healthy enough throughout the season.

The fact that the Cavaliers' Irving claimed the award figured to prompt natural comparisons between him and
LeBron James
,
who left Cleveland as a free agent in 2010. (Irving was drafted by the Cavs the year after James left.) In particular, there has been speculation that Irving wants out of Cleveland, too, once he becomes a free agent.

"I don't think they needed Kyrie Irving to win this to have a good vibe," James said after the game, referring to Irving's MVP award. "I think they know they have someone very special. He's very special. And I just think that it probably adds a cherry on top for him to receive this award."

Irving earned the MVP award by scoring 24 points and logging seven assists after the break. His dribbling skills, arguably the best in the league, shook defenders off balance and prompted audible noises from the New Orleans crowd—which included new NBA Commissioner
Adam Silver,
who sat courtside—at times.

Those in attendance had a handful of other moments in which their attention was most engaged: When Anthony Davis, who plays for the hometown Pelicans, was introduced, and when former Celtics great Bill Russell, who turned 80 on Sunday, was honored in the middle of the game.

Legendary point guard Magic Johnson stepped to half-court with a microphone and led the entire arena in singing "Happy Birthday" to Russell, before then imploring every player from each team to go greet Russell personally and shake his hand. "I thought that was one of the more special moments in All-Star history," said Western Conference coach Scott Brooks, who leads the Oklahoma City Thunder.

For the Crescent City, it marked the second time in six years that the All-Star Game had been held here; perhaps an effort on the NBA's part to give the city an economic boost as it continues to stabilize in the wake of Hurricane Katrina nearly nine years ago.

I watched NBA all star games back to Adrian Smith, I watched the NBA ABA all star games which are still on Youtube. I played a ton of basketball in high school, rec leagues etc even against college and NBA players in the 80's. I have not heard a word about the NBA in a work environment since JOrdan retired (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili are nice but not resonating) and wonder if the nba is not overstating it's relevance.

First 3 1/2 quarters were so boring I turned it off. Even the eyeball-melting horridness of the uniforms could not get me to watch out of morbid curiosity. However the last six minutes were great. Durant is crazy good, Melo was unreal, and LeBron imposed his will whenever he wanted to. That was fun. In life, a little fun is of inestimable value...

Joakim Noah was the only one playing defense. His defense in the 4th quarter held the West to their lowest scoring total of any quarter of the game. There wasn't a single blocked shot the entire game though.

You must be in the wrong work environment, then. What you say may have been true 7 or 8 years ago, during the depths of the post-Jordan blues, but the game has seen a resurgence the last few years and is on the right trajectory for the future. Everything from the quality of the play to the likability of its stars is about as good as its ever been.

Within 10 years, when the enormity of the concussion scandal and its long-lasting impact has further eroded the NFL's dominance (and nobody should kid themselves that the NFL is past its peak and is trending down), the NBA will be back on top in your workplace and others.

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